"At the time of the formation of the powder company, there were a few structures built by Jacob Broom for his mill hands in this general area. Others were added, of various sizes, through the 19th century, some of stone and some of frame...

"It is not known when the stone blacksmith's shop was built, but it was in existence on the present site in 1834, when it was valued at $1000. At that time part of the building was an iron shop, part a foundry. It was originally much larger than it...